S2394 —

S2394 SBA Statement 5/7/20 SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE   STATEMENT TO   SENATE, No.

2394  STATE OF NEW JERSEY 219th LEGISLATURE   INTRODUCEDDATED: MAY 4, 2020     Sponsored by:

Senator  MAY LINDA7, R.        The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No.

GREENSTEIN2394. District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex) Senator  BRIAN P.

STACK      DistrictThis 33bill (Hudson)requires  a Co-Sponsoredhospital by:to permit an individual to accompany a woman during childbirth.  Under the bill, a hospital is to permit a pregnant woman to have at least one individual to accompany the woman during the period of labor and delivery in the room of the hospital where the woman gives birth to her child.

Senators Addiego, T.Kean, Cruz-Perez, Ruiz, Brown and A.M.Bucco    FISCAL  IMPACT:   SYNOPSIS      Requires hospital to permit individual to accompany woman during childbirth.

       CURRENTThis VERSIONbill OFis TEXTnot     certified Asas introduced.requiring a fiscal note.

   An Act concerning childbirth and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

       Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

       1.    An acute care general hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) shall permit a pregnant woman to have at least one individual to accompany the woman during the period of labor and delivery in the room of the hospital where the woman gives birth to her child.

       2.    The Commissioner of Health shall adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act, including rules and regulations as to restrictions an acute care general hospital may place on individuals accompanying pregnant women during the period of labor and delivery as provided in section 1 of this act.

       3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

    STATEMENT        This bill requires a hospital to permit an individual to accompany a woman during childbirth.  Under the bill, a hospital is to permit a pregnant woman to have at least one individual to accompany the woman during the period of labor and delivery in the room of the hospital where the woman gives birth to her child.

     The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health is to adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this bill, including rules and regulations as to restrictions a hospital may place on individuals accompanying pregnant women during the period of labor and delivery.